HEALTH POLICIES AGENDA-SETTING IN PORTUGAL Media influence over public opinion in times of uncertainity

News published by the media, in a given period of time reflect the topics that most concern societies. Agenda setting theory is about the capacity of media to influence what people think about. In times of crisis and uncertainty, in Portugal, agenda setting effects are noticed for Health Policies related themes. Three of the issues more focused by the Portuguese press, verified through content analysis methods in a diary ("Diario de Noticias") are coincident with the three most important problems referred in a public opinion survey applied by telephone to a representative sample of 300 Lisbon habitants, appearing in the same order: (1)Financing, (2)Access and Administration of Care Units and (3) Human resources. Public agenda is determined by the media agenda. Analysis of information sources referred in the news indicate that governmental institutions are the more frequent fonts, followed by the Social Society. Although media agenda is strongly influenced by the political agenda, the ideas of Foucault on governmentality are applicable, as "power" appears disseminated among individuals to influence media agenda.